Chapter 30 Naomi #3
The rest of the day passes like a dream, the kind of day where time slips through your fingers before you even realize it. After an intense splash war that ends with Jaxon dunking me underwater for the third time, he grins like he’s got another plan brewing.
“You ever ride a jet ski before?” Jaxon asks, slicking his wet hair back, the sun glinting off his golden skin.
“No,” I shake my head.
“Perfect,” he says, taking my hand.
“How is that perfect?”
“Something ‘bout first times do it for me.” He winks.
He leads me toward the sleek black jet ski tied to the back of the yacht. Nyx shouts something from the deck, probably a warning, but I’m too distracted by the way Jaxon’s grin widens as he tosses me a life jacket.
He mounts one of the monstrosities, patting the seat behind him, saying, “Hop on.”
I hesitate, glancing at the seat, then back at him. “You’re not going to try to kill me, are you?”
“Not today,” he chuckles, a sound as smooth as velvet. “C’mon, Naomi. Trust me.”
Against my better judgment, I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist as the jet ski roars to life beneath us.
“Hold on,” he warns, and I barely have time to tighten my grip before we’re speeding across the water, slicing through the waves.
The rush of wind and salt spray steals my breath, but it’s exhilarating—terrifying and freeing all at once. Jaxon whoops, leaning into the turns with reckless abandon, and I can’t help but laugh; it bursts out of me despite myself.
“You good back there?” he calls over the purr of the engine.
“Not if you flip us over!” I shout back, clutching him tighter.
“Relax, Reina,” he says, his voice full of cocky assurance. “You’re safe with me.”
And damn it, I believe him.
When we finally circle back to the yacht, my legs are trembling, my hair a windblown mess, but I’m grinning like an idiot. Jaxon helps me off, gripping my waist as he lifts me back onto the deck.
“You’re not half-bad at this whole ‘fun’ thing,” I tease.
“Don’t get used to it,” he shoots back, but the warmth in my chest lingers long after I walk away.
By the time the sun dips low on the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of amber and crimson, my muscles ache from swimming, and my cheeks hurt from laughing too much.
Even Cade, who spent most of the day glued to his phone, eventually joined in on the fun.
For a while, it feels normal—almost like none of the mayhem from yesterday existed.
As night falls, we all gather on the deck around a low table piled high with grilled seafood, fresh fruit, and enough liquor to sink the boat.
Jaxon’s easy laughter fills the space as he leans back, sipping from a tumbler of bourbon.
Nyx sits across from him, his chair tilted back on two legs, a lazy grin playing on his lips as he twirls a half-empty glass of rum in his hand.
I sit between them at the end of the table; my friends are scattered around the table. The tension from earlier feels like a distant memory, replaced with a comfortable camaraderie that almost makes me forget how infuriating they can be. Almost.
Later, as the sun sets and the liquor starts to catch up to us, Jaxon grins from ear to ear as his eyes run over me. Nyx notices, leaning closer to me as he murmurs, “You let him have all the fun today, that’s why he’s floating on cloud nine like an idiot. Tomorrow, you’re riding with me.”
“Tomorrow, I’m staying off jet skis,” I say flatly, but neither of them looks convinced.
“Sure, you are, Dollface,” Nyx says.
I roll my eyes and try to focus on the wine in my cup, but something between the three of us simmers just beneath the surface, waiting for its moment to boil over.
Dinner wraps up with a lazy sort of ease, everyone lounging about, sipping on drinks while the stars glisten above us.
Aisha and Xay are on the far end; she giggles when he kisses her neck as they look out over the sea.
Taylor and Courtney are stretched out on a lounger, her in his lap.
And even Lisa and Cade look cozy, playing spades.
The air is heavy with salt and warmth, but I can feel something else at play tonight—a crackling tension that neither Jaxon nor Nyx seems eager to ignore, so I sit there waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Nyx is the first to stir, his sharp gaze locking on me. “So, Dollface, where are you sleeping tonight?” He says, the Liquor making him far too bold. But why am I surprised? He always says what’s on his mind.
I nearly choke on my drink, my head whipping toward him. “Excuse me?”
Jaxon leans back in his chair, on my other side, his smirk deepening as he swirls the liquor in his glass. “I’m pretty sure she’s staying with me. She owes me after that jet ski ride.”
“I owe you nothing,” I snap, glaring at him, but my pulse jumps when Nyx’s low chuckle bubbles to the surface.
“Yeah, well, you’re not the only one she owes,” Nyx says, his voice smooth, but his smirk wicked. “I saved her from flying bullets. That’s at least worth some consideration.”
“Oh, give me a break,” Jaxon bites back, his easy grin slipping into something sharper. “You’re just trying to make up for being useless all day.”
“Useless?” Nyx’s tone dips, mock offense dripping from every syllable. “I’m truly offended.”
I groan, standing abruptly and cutting through their little standoff. “You two are ridiculous. I have my own bed, and that’s exactly where I’m sleeping tonight.”
Nyx’s grin widens like I’ve just handed him a golden opportunity. “Perfect. Then we’ll both sleep in your room. Problem solved, bed’s bigger anyway.”
“You are not sleeping in my room,” I say, shifting my eyes from him to Jaxon. “Neither of you. Whatever testosterone-fueled fantasy you two have got going on, fight it out between yourselves—but leave me out of it.”
Nyx feigns a pout. “That’s hurtful, Dollface.”
“Good.”
Jaxon chuckles, tipping his glass in my direction. “You really think you can just walk away, Reina?”
I stand, my pulse racing as both their gazes lock on me, twin storms of mischief. “Watch me.”
I grab my drink, leaving them both at the table, but as I step toward the door, Nyx’s voice follows, low and teasing. “You can’t run from us forever.”
“I can try,” I huff, lifting my middle finger high enough for them to see. I don’t look back, but the smirk in his tone is almost enough to make me turn around—and throw my wine glass at his head. “Idiots.”
I don’t even make it halfway down the hall when Aisha appears, falling into step with me. Her eyes gleam with curiosity, a sly grin playing on her lips.
“Girl,” she says, drawing out the word like she’s savoring it. “What is going on?”
My stomach flips, and I stop short. “What are you talking about?”
She arches a brow. “Nyx. Don’t play dumb. I thought it was just Jaxon, but now…” She trails off, letting the insinuation hang heavy between us. “That was some intense whispering between all of you.
I sigh, pressing a hand to my forehead. “I don’t even know, Aisha. They’re both driving me insane.”
“I’m not judging,” she says quickly, her grin widening. “But I need the details. All of them.”
I glance toward my room, half-tempted to make a break for it, but the look on her face tells me she’s not letting this go. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, clearly unconvinced. “Well, when you figure it out, you better spill, because shit is getting messy.”
I sigh again, slipping past her and into my room. “Goodnight, Aisha.”
“Goodnight, messy queen!” Her laughter follows me down the hall.
“Says the girl who is about to get pile driven in two minutes,” I call after her.
She flashes a grin over her shoulder. “Kiss my ass!” She giggles.
I close the door behind me, turning the lock with a quiet click. For the first time all day, I’m alone, and the silence feels heavier than it should be. My body is sore in the best way, my muscles aching from the sun, the water, and the endless activities of the day.
I strip off my clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor, and slip under the cool sheets. The bed feels impossibly big, almost too empty after the noise and energy I’ve just escaped.
I stretch out, my limbs sinking into the mattress as my eyes flutter shut.
But my mind refuses to quiet, lingering on the sharp edges of Nyx’s smirk and the teasing warmth of Jaxon’s laugh.
For a moment, I imagine it—both of them here, one on each side of me.
Nyx’s hand tracing lazy circles on my thigh, Jaxon’s gunmetal gaze meeting mine.
Their heat, their touch, their voices low and soft in the dark.
The thought is reckless and impossible, but it sticks, a phantom sensation that lingers as I drift off.
Maybe, just maybe, being caught between them wouldn’t be the worst thing after all.